Backstrom was Mika Noronen’s backup on the Finnish team that won theWorld Junior Championship in 1998. Originally a junior player of the HIFKorganization, he wasn’t quite brought up properly there and left toseek success elsewhere. He soon broke out with SaiPa in 2000-01, facingnumerous shots behind the weak team. A move to Stockholm and AIK turnedout to be a disappointment, as the club crashed and burned under newFinnish management. Backstrom did what he could, but AIK was relegated tothe second tier league. When given a decent chance to become a starterin Karpat, he took the opportunity and doesn’t need to regret it.

In 2002-03 they nearly made it all the way and Backstrom put up a decentfight for the goalie of the year award. The 2003-04 season looked evenmore promising until a teammate fell on him in a national team game inFebruary and Backstrom was diagnosed with a serious knee injury. Karpatstaggered without a proven goalie, but he returned for the playoffs aftera minor surgery. Despite some setbacks the team would not lose a series again. Once the season was over and Karpat wascelebrating the championship, it was revealed that Backstrom was rushed back andhe played the entire campaign with a torn ACL. Later he was awardedas the goalie of the year and the playoff MVP.

Backstrom has slowly but surely altered his style and developed histechnique over the years. Once primarily a stand-up goalie, he hasintegrated more and more butterfly aspects into his game, although he stillclearly plays a hybrid style favored by many Finnish goalie coaches. Thefive-hole used to be a problem for him, but with improved quickness hehas patched up his weaknesses. Effortless saves indicate goodpositioning. His arms are quick enough to guard the net from high shots, and hecan often make the big save when needed. All in all, he is now acomplete goalie.

For some reason Backstrom’s performances in national team games havealways been sub-par. Whether this is a combination of a couple ofconsequences or an alarming sign of vulnerability against greater oppositionremains a mystery. If he stays in Europe, he will surely be given moretime to become Finland’s top European-based goalie, until the end ofdays if need be. Backstrom’s situation much resembles that of PasiNurminen three years ago: the same age, roughly the same level of talent andstill a long conditioning period to go through. That didn’t stopNurminen from crossing the pond and it won’t stop Backstrom either if an NHLorganization has enough desire to welcome him. Teams have less need forgoalies now than back then, but if a European veteran looks like a goodoption, he is the man.

Janne Niskala, D6’0″, 198 lbsBorn: 9/22/1981

stats

Season

Team

Pos

GP

G

A

P

±

PIM

GWG

GTG

S%

2000-01

Lukko, SM-Liiga

D

18

0

0

0

-2

0

–

–

–

2000-01

Manchester Storm, BISL

D

10

0

1

1

–

8

–

–

–

2001-02

Lukko, SM-Liiga

D

55

7

13

20

-25

81

–

–

–

2002-03

Lukko, SM-Liiga

D

46

4

5

9

+5

40

–

–

–

2003-04

Lukko, SM-Liiga

D

55

21

15

36

+13

73

–

–

–

Niskala has represented Lukko throughout his career in Finland. Hisroad to become an SM-Liiga regular was bumpy as he couldn’t lay a solidfoundation for his game due to being a defensive liability. In 2000 hemoved temporarily to England for some fresh air with the ManchesterStorm. Once back in Finland, he had more maturity to help him develop.Despite promising numbers in 2001-02, he couldn’t get it all together until2003-04. Suddenly he was a valuable asset even in the defensive zone.Offensively the speedy defenseman took the largest step as hiscontribution elevated the team’s power play to a higher level. He neverhesitated to draw and fire a slapshot, and that shows in the statistics. Thebottom line, he developed into a top ten defenseman in SM-Liiga.

Niskala’s athletism is extremely impressive. He has the strength towrestle with bigger opponents in explosive pulses and the stamina to keepit up throughout the game with lots of ice time. The necessary tools ofan offensive defenseman are there, puck poise and impeccable skating.With a killer slapshot and a powerful wrist shot, he boasts morefirepower than any other defenseman in the league. Despite his vision andhockey sense not being anything special, he still gets close to an idealpower play quarterback. However, you can only become so solid in one year.Niskala’s defensive and neutral zone play is still questionable,especially when planning a jump onto a higher level. At the age of 22 thereis still time for him to mature. He doesn’t have to be considered animmediate addition if and when drafted. Niskala can eventually reach hispeak as the artillery piece of a second power play unit.

Toni Soderholm, D6’2″, 190 lbsBorn: 4/14/1978

stats

Season

Team

Pos

GP

G

A

P

±

PIM

GWG

GTG

S%

2000-01

UMass-Am, NCAA

D

24

1

7

8

–

23

–

–

–

2001-02

UMass-Am, NCAA

D

33

2

15

17

–

28

–

–

–

2002-03

HIFK, SM-Liiga

D

52

8

15

23

+7

49

–

–

–

2003-04

HIFK, SM-Liiga

D

56

16

21

37

+21

72

–

–

–

Let it first be known that Soderholm doesn’t need to be drafted inorder to sign him thanks to his NCAA career. It is still possible that ateam could still pick him to secure his rights and contract negotiations,and prospect-wise his status doesn’t make a difference. Thecosmopolitan native of the capital city area has spent a total of six seasons inNorth America, not appearing in spotlights until after four years in theUniversity of Massachusetts-Amherst. He quickly worked his way from thethird pairing all the way to the first with HIFK in his rookie seasonin 2002-03, earning the Jarmo Wasama Memorial Trophy as the SM-Liigarookie of the year. After the season Soderholm was expected to sign withan NHL team, but he decided to stay in Helsinki. Later he stated that hefelt like owning HIFK at least another season for giving him a chance –a season in which the sophomore would wear the C on his chest. Hedeveloped still and got his name on an even nicer trophy, the defenseman ofthe year.

Soderholm is a surprisingly flashy player for someone with such a calmand well-rounded style and no skills that stand high above the rest. Ifsuccessful, he could resemble Toni Lydman on NHL level: A two-waydefenseman with shifty offensive and defensive biases. He is simply adept atmany aspects of the game, but his smooth skating deserves a mention.However, his physical play is a notable question mark. During his twoyears in Finland he hasn’t added any mass and he didn’t have the strengthto always succeed in what he wanted to accomplish, namely taking thebody, which he does like to do. In the NHL this would naturally be evenmore of a problem. How much he can still improve is a mystery.Nevertheless, Soderholm seems bound to sign an NHL contract when the time isright.